Grand Saline Man Receives 10-Year Sentence On Indecency With A Child Charge
A 41-year-old Grand Saline man received a 10-year sentence from a district judge on an indecency with a child by sexual contact charge.
Anthony Michael Luft plead guilty to indecency with a child by sexual contact; a sentencing hearing was held Dec. 3 before 8th Judicial District Judge Eddie Northcutt, who sentenced Luft to 10 years, according to prosecutors.
“This was a very tough case. Law enforcement did an excellent job on this case,” said Jodi Haney Cox, assistant district attorney for the 8th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
Luft was arrested March 28 as a result of a joint investigation between Sulphur Springs Police Department and Child Protective Services officials, police reported following Luft’s arrest.
The investigation was launched after an outcry was made of alleged sexual abuse of the child. The alleged sexual abuse was first reported to authorities in another jurisdiction. However, the offense was alleged to have occurred in Sulphur Springs, so authorities contacted SSPD on March 26, Sulphur Springs Police Detective Jason Reneau reported following Luft’s arrest.
The alleged child victim was interviewed at Northeast Texas Child Advocacy Center. Based on the investigation and NETCAC interview, Reneau sought and obtained a warrant for Luft’s arrest, the SSPD investigator reported.
Luft was located and arrested March 28 in Grand Saline, then transported to Hopkins County jail, where he was interviewed regarding the allegation, according to Reneau.
Luft plead guilty and appeared in court for a sentencing hearing in which he receive a 10-year sentence Wednesday from the judge.
“We believed this victim deserved justice and justice was served. The judge made sure justice was served, no matter who the defendant was,” Cox said.
Sulphur Bluff Lady Bears Basketball Team Wins Big at Home Over Yantis
The Sulphur Bluff Lady Bears Basketball Team got a one-sided win over Yantis at Sulphur Bluff Tuesday (December 3) winning 74-14. The Lady Bears led 25-6 after one quarter, 44-12 at the half and 62-12 after three quarters. Skylar Stanley had a big night with 23 points, 19 rebounds, 8 steals and 2 assists. Lady Bears Coach Zandra Peyton said Bailey Neal had her best game of the season with 10 points, 2 steals and 2 rebounds. Ann Dorner, playing only a few minutes, had 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals and an assist. Alley Collett had 14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 assists. Jada Wade had 4 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists. Angel Brown had 4 points, 2 steals, 1 rebound and a team high 6 assists. Coach Peyton said Brown reads the defense well and sets up her teammates in a position to score. Dalena di Donato had 4 points, 1 steal, 3 rebounds and an assist. Tori Raine had 2 points, 5 steals, 1 rebound and 2 assists. Lydia Drummond had 3 points. Sulphur Bluff plays next at Cumby next Tuesday.
2 Business Women Ask City For Help With Unsupervised Children Downtown
Two local business women this week approached Sulphur Springs City Council regarding concerns of middle school-aged children being unsupervised downtown.
“We would like to approach y’all for a curfew for the children running downtown. It is out of control. My people sit outside at night and eat. The language of the 12- and 13-year-olds, and they’re running back and forth and fighting. It’s crazy,” said Dinky Weeks, Corner Grub House general manger of operations.
Lara Colby Magic Scoop owner-manger Lara Colby said youth often congregate in front of her business at night.
“There’s sometimes 20 kids out there, all discussing who’s going to fight whom. I know this because they come into my shop. We’ve had problems with theft with some of these young children,” Colby said.
Colby said the middle school aged children are dropped off and left unsupervised downtown, even after her business closes at 10 p.m.; some even are seen running around in the back alley.
The youth are out every Friday and Saturday night, and were downtown every night during the Thanksgiving break from school. Being unsupervised enables the youth “to make really bad decisions. They’re really good kids, but they aren’t being supervised, Colby said.
Weeks noted the kids knock trash cans over, which business personnel have to pick up. Colby said the kids also are known to be in the alley
There is an officer on patrol downtown two nights a week, but they are limited in the actions they are able to take, Weeks told the City Council during public forum at the Dec. 3 meeting.
“One policeman can only do so much, and they have to have right to be able to do something. They can’t just go up to them and tell them, ‘Hey, look don’t do that, you can’t do that,” every single time they’re down there. After the first time, they need to have something that they can fall back on,” Weeks told the council.
Colby said allowing the children to be left unsupervised downtown is not only not good for the children, it’s also not a good representation of Sulphur Springs.
Colby asked the council to consider implementing some kind of curfew which would curtail unsupervised children after hours downtown. She suggested perhaps requiring children to present identification, and those who couldn’t wouldn’t be allowed to be out past a certain time. The curfew would be for younger children, not 15 and 16-year-old, who she said could be trusted.
“We just need ideas. All we’re asking is help with the situation, the kids that don’t any parental supervision,” Weeks said.
City Attorney Jim McLeroy told the business women while the City Council couldn’t discuss the matter with them during public forum, he could say that the matter would be address in January.
“I’ll have something in the January agenda to begin addressing this. We can address this. This is something we can address and we can enforce,” McLeroy said.
McLeroy shared information on what he anticipates the proposed ordinance will entail with KSST. Read about it here.
City Attorney To Propose Curfew Ordinance For Unsupervised Minors At January City Council Meeting
Minors in Sulphur Springs could face a curfew in the new future.
When two local businesswomen Tuesday night asked Sulphur Springs City Council for help with middle school-aged children being allowed out at night and after businesses close without supervision, Sulphur Springs City Attorney Jim McLeroy told them he plans to present something at the January City Council meeting that could help address that.
McLeroy Thursday said he is already at work drafting a curfew ordinance proposal to present for consideration at next regularly scheduled City Council meeting.
The proposed ordinance as currently written, McLeroy said, would apply only to minors under 17 years of age who are unsupervised after certain hours each night and before certain hours in the morning in Sulphur Springs.
McLeroy said he anticipates the curfew would be in place from either 9 or 10 p.m. until about 6 a.m. weekdays and on weekends starting around 10 or 11 p.m. for minors under age 17 who are not accompanied or supervised by a parent or guardian.
There would be a few exceptions, however, McLeroy noted. The proposed ordinance would not apply to minors 16 and younger who: are with parents or legal guardians, are on task where they are supposed to be while running errands for parents, working or traveling to and from work, emergency situations, outside their residences, or involved with school or religious functions.
Minors exercising their First Amendment rights would also be protected. For instance, protesters of milk production over the summer assembled downtown. They wore t-shirts, had signs and spoke in protest. Minors actively participating in such protests, even during curfew hours without a parent or legal guardian present, would not be in violation of the ordinance; their right to do so is protected under the First Amendment, according to McLeroy.
The ordinance, as proposed by McLeroy, would apply to all public areas of the city, including parks, downtown and public parking lot. However, areas identified as most troublesome will likely be enforced more heavily than other areas.
Violation of the ordinance could result in a Class C misdemeanor citation. Minors violating the ordinance, parents or guardians who knowingly allow their minor children to be unsupervised in public during curfew hours and businesses who knowingly allow minors to be on their property in violation of the curfew ordinance could be issued citations, according to McLeroy.
The proposed ordinance is intended as a deterrent for minors congregating and potentially getting into mischief after curfew hours. Currently, officers can only ask unsupervised minors to leave public areas and go home. The ordinance would lawfully provide officials with an additional enforcement tool, when needed. For instance, it would allow them to take an unsupervised minor found in violation of the ordinance home, according to the city attorney.
Of course, the ordinance is only proposed at this time. McLeroy anticipates presenting it for first reading, discussion and consideration at the January City Council meeting, which should be on Jan. 7, according to the current schedule. If the ordinance is approved, as well as times and other modifications, will be up to the City Council.
Lady Cats Basketball Team Opens Play Against Burkburnett in Glen Rose Tournament Thursday
Starting Thursday (December 5), the Lady Cats Basketball Team begins play in a three day tournament quite a distance from home as they are in the Glen Rose Lady Tiger 2019 Lions’ Club Varsity Tournament. The Lady Cats open up in the Glen Rose Arena Thursday at 3:15 p.m. against Burkburnett. Win or lose, the Lady Cats second game of the tourney will be on Friday. The Lady Cats come in with a 3-6 season record. They have lost back to back games in overtime. Lady Cats Coach Brittney Tisdell was disappointed in her team’s play in a loss at Terrell on Tuesday. She’s hoping getting out of town is just what the team needs. Coach Tisdell says since the tournament will require overnight stays, she is hoping the players will enjoy hanging out with each other and doing some bonding.
Wildcats Basketball Team Wins First Game at Mansfield Tournament Over A&M Consolidated
Wildcats Basketball Coach Clark Cipoletta says he loves the Mansfield ISD Spring Creek Barbeque Classic Tournament. He says last year’s tourney was when he figured out what type of team the Wildcats were. The Wildcats early results in this year’s tournament were good. The Wildcats won Thursday morning (December 5), 68-61 over A&M Consolidated of College Station. Day Day Hall scored a team high 29 points and Cameron Kahn chipped in 20 points. Grayson McClure added 9 points. Lamodrick Johnson scored 7 points. Boo Wilkerson had 4 points. Justin Haire scored 2 points. The Wildcats improved their season record to 5-1. The Wildcats will play a second game in the tourney at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Mansfield High. The Wildcats had some ups and downs last year. They opened with an impressive 81-73 win over Mansfield Lake Ridge on their home court. Lake Ridge, a 6A school was top 25 ranked for awhile last year. Then came a disappointing 68-63 loss to Fort Bend Elkins, a Class 6A team that was ranked #7. The next day, the Wildcats got a solid 59-55 overtime win over Killeen Ellison. Ellison, a Class 6A team, made their way into the rankings for awhile later in the season. Then the Wildcats closed with a downer, a 44-32 loss to Mansfield Summit. Coach Cipoletta said at the tournament last year, the Wildcats inspirational manager Dylan Jester asked to talk to the team and according to Coach Cipoletta, really let the Wildcats have it because of the way they were playing.
JetTribe Receives Approval To Host Jet Ski Watercraft Event At Coleman Lake
JetTribe Core Watercraft Company officials have been given the go-ahead to host a jet ski watercraft exhibit on Coleman Lake in the spring.
Dinh Tran, senior partner of Vosh International Corp, told Sulphur Springs City Council that with the help of the Sulphur Springs-Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation Tony and Sarah Whitehead, founders of JetTribe, have established a distribution center in Sulphur Springs.
Tran explained that over the last 6-7 months, the JetTribe founders have been so impressed with the hospitality from the Sulphur Springs community welcoming them, that they were seeking permission to hold a water ski exhibition on Lake Coleman on May 15-16.
“Tony and Sarah have been co-hosting many events internationally. They feel like it’s something they’d like to give back to the community and introduce them to the sport of jet ski,” Tran said.
He said the event would serve as a test for potentially other events. The exhibition would welcome the entire community to attend. Depending on how successful the May event is, company officials would like to eventually make Sulphur Springs a location for a qualifying stage in the sport.
“Currently, at this moment, only California, New York and Florida have the right to do that. I strongly believe that Tony and Sarah have the ability to host such an event here in Sulphur Springs. At this moment, , from our estimation, if we get approval, we can bring anywhere from 50 to 100 riders from throughout Texas to come up here and do an exhibition on it. Our estimation, I think it will bring in a great financial impact to the city of Sulphur Springs. It’s something different, something that in my opinion that hasn’t been done in Texas,” Tran said.
City Manager Marc Maxwell noted that there is one stumbling block for this request. The city has an ordinance that prohibits motorized boats on the Coleman Lake unless the parks and recreation board approves it. Since the city no longer has a parks and recreation board, the matter request was presented to the City Council during their Dec. 3 meeting.
“Assuming the lake is deep enough, it looks like a great opportunity,” Place 6 Council member Doug Moore said.
Tran affirmed it is; the only requirement for the event is that the lake be 3 feet deep.
Place 7 Councilman John Sellers asked how many actual jet skis would be on the lake during the exhibition.
Sarah Whitehead, who in addition to being a founder is also vice president of JetTribe, said that at any one time there would be 10-12 on the lake; people take turns.
Sellers asked based on the lake, it’s size and proximity to the city, if it’d be a good place to hold that kind of event.
“I think so. It’s a good centrally located lake for the community. You could view the spectating pretty much all the way around the lake and it’s deep enough. We can lay out the course in such a way so that it can fit the lake. It will have the timed closed-course type of race, where people race against the buoys and the clock. Then, there will be another portion where they can do free-styling, and do some tricks and flips and stuff to please the crowd, more or less. It will go in phases,” Whitehead explained.
Mayor Norman Sanders asked if both the upper and lower portions of the lake could be used.
Whitehead head asked if the upper portion was the smaller section of the lake. She said the only thing discussed for that would be potentially holding a side attraction for kids to do something there. It wouldn’t necessarily be part of the event, however.
Tran said likely some type of remote controlled boats and little watercraft toys would be used at the event to introduce kids to the sport.
Sellers made the motion, which was seconded by Place 5 Councilman Jeff Sanderson, and unanimously approved by the council, to allow JetTribe to hold a jet ski watercraft exhibition event at Coleman Lake.
'A Christmas Carol: Radio on Stage' Brings Art to Main Street Theater in a 5-Show Run December 12-15
With David Woody directing, the Christmas-time classic “A Christmas Carol” is brought to life in a unique adaptation by Tony Palmero of the 1843 novella by Charles Dickens. Palmero also composed and arranged the musical score. Fourteen actors of various ages will portray the voices of the characters as in a live radio broadcast. The radio-on-stage theater presentation is designed to enhance your family’s Christmas celebration.
Delivering lines and speaking for effect is essential to the art of theater, and because of that, ‘radio onstage’ makes a perfect pairing for audiences. Mastering the English accent and inflections has been a learning curve for some new to the cast. Bob Cratchit, the abused and underpaid clerk, is portrayed by Marcus Reed, a theater student new to Main Street Theater. Reed also portrays a London businessman. Young Peter Cratchit is portrayed by Conner Curtis, a Middle schooler new to Sulphur Springs who also skillfully carries the role of Buck the Street Urchin. In addition to directing, Woody will depict Ebeneezer Scrooge, the villain who becomes the hero, moved by kindness to abandon his self-serving ways and open his heart to joy and the true meaning of Christmas giving. A sound effects table will be employed onstage to compete the effect necessary for the sense of live radio performed at microphones onstage.
Five shows are scheduled December 12-15, 2019. Catch evening performances at 7pm and afternoon performances at 2pm. Two shows will be held Saturday December 14. Reservations are encouraged. Tickets are $10 each. Phone 903-885-0107 or visit communityplayersinc.com. Main Street Theater at 225A Main Street in Sulphur Springs seats about 80 persons for each performance.
City Officials Discuss Potential Options, Alternate Ideas For Downtown Parking
Downtown parking and options to potentially increase or identify available parking downtown were discussed during Sulphur Springs City Council’s regular meeting this week.
Place 2 Council member Jimmy Lucas said he asked that the discussion on downtown parking be placed on the council agenda after being approached by vendors downtown. The business person expressed concern to Lucas that business was being lost due to “drive-away customers.”
“They drive up and they see parking that’s close if full and they’re driving away,” people opting to go elsewhere when parking close to downtown businesses were not readily available.
Lucas said he had no answer for the issue, but agreed to bring it before the council to glean ideas others might have regarding the issue. He said if anyone had ideas on the matter, he’d be willing to hear them.
When asked whether the city owns property near downtown, City Manager Marc Maxwell noted the city does own property on Oak Avenue that previously served as a rest home. It was pointed out there are already plans for that property, to become the site of a new activity center for senior citizens.
Place 5 Council member Jeff Sanderson asked if the city owns the two lots directly behind City Hall. Maxwell noted the city does own the two blocks between Rogers and Mulberry streets.
“It looks like there’s just under two acres, between the two lots, so, around right at 50,000-square foot, give or take. If you do the numbers for a parking lot, you can come up with around $200,000-$250,000, depending on the turnaround and your drives. Is that open to discussion?” Sanderson asked.
Maxwell said based on years of observation and industry studies and research, it is believed that likely wouldn’t resolve the issue.
“The universal cry is that we have to have more parking, and it’s never true. It seems like it’s true. The fact of the matter is we have 1,440 parking spaces within two blocks of the square between the banks and the churches and all of the ins and outs,” Maxwell said.
Maxwell said those who visit downtown on Saturday night, would be able to find parking at say First Baptist Church, behind the banks or the county parking lot by the Courthouse Annex building.
“I would suggest to you, we could build more parking, but if they’re not going to walk from those lots, they’re not going to walk from here,” Maxwell told the council.
Maxwell said another issue is that a lot of those parking downtown are owners or employees of business.
“If we could get them to park in one of these more remote parking lot, we’d see an immediate alleviation. It’d be noticable. But, how do you do that? That’s an enforcement nightmare,” Maxwell added.
The city manager said “one of the rules about downtowns is you don’t want to put up no parking or limited parking signs.” Roger Brooks, when he visited and helped the city with branding, told officials they will likely be pushed to establish time limits for parking; he advised against it.
Two-hour only parking sign might have the opposite response than desired from downtown patrons, Maxwell said. For instance two hours would likely not be enough time for someone who’s planning an extended time downtown, perhaps to have a meal and shop, they may seek other locations for their business and time that aren’t so time restrictive to parking, he
Maxwell said he’d hoped that could be self-policed by the Downtown Business Alliance, but they are having no luck getting that done. He said that wasn’t a criticism the DBA, just a fact that it’s the reality; it’s hard to put into place and enforce.
Mayor Pro Tem/Place 1 Council member Erica Armstrong asked if the city could implement some kind of parking tag, similar to those issued to students at say a high school, only to designate employee or owners.
Maxwell said that bring the question of whether a tag could be mandated, and if so, logistics of that would have go be worked out. Also, there could be the argument that an employee could park in the designated public or customer spaces if not at work, to do personal shopping, eat out or take their kids to play in the fountain.
Place 7 Council member John Sellers suggested talking to the business owners again to see if they’d be willing to comply, to help their businesses.
“They’re bringing it to us to solve, so we’ve got to come up with something,” Lucas said.
Kayla Price said signage is something that’s been discussed in the past.
“I’m from Sulphur Springs so I know where the parking is located that you don’t see if you’re on the square, but, if you’re an out-of-towner, you don’t. If you go to McKinney, what do you see everywhere? Additional parking. I really think our simplest solution would be some signage to let the out-of-towners know that they can park at the church or the other lots,” said Price.
Armstrong suggested naming the lots, for example, Lot A, Lot B. Then, in a couple of different location show where the additional parking lots are located.
Maxwell said to consider with that was how that would work to reflect the different hours the owners of the different lots are open, or when they are available to the general public. For instance, churches use their parking areas at different times. Digital signs have been mentioned, Maxwell said.
The city manager said the city bought some cones and has utilized them at various parking lots during days special events or activities are being held downtown, pointing to available parking areas. He said he’s not sure how effective those are, but it’s been done.
“I keep looking for a simple beautiful answer, and I’m at a loss too,” Maxwell said.
Sellers pointed out that after 5 p.m. the county lots are usually available.
“I know the perception is that’s way, but it’s probably not any farther than from back of Walmart from those lots. That might be a good place mark for additional parking because that’s a good size of lots that do not get used, even from 8 to 5. I walk down there and they’re practically empty, unless it’s a jury day,” Sellers said.
Resident Taylor Cross said to look at it another way. He said it’s like going to Walmart. You want one of those front spots, but since you’re already there, you tough it out and go in anyway.
“We’ve brought up some really good points about maybe asking the employees to park other places. I see it too. I love going too. I see it. There are some private parking lots. Maybe some of the owners could be asked if, after hours they would mind if the people could use their parking spaces,” Cross said.
Barbara Williams said she agrees that signs are needed downtown.
“I’ve lived in Sulphur Springs less than two years. I didn’t know you could park at the churches. I didn’t know you could park at some of these places. I love to be downtown. I’m downtown as often as I can be. But if you don’t put signs up and make people feel like they are welcome. They are going to go elsewhere,” Williams said.
Morgan Standbridge said parking is a topic often discussed. He said his thought would be a bit more aggressive.
“Marc, I think you showed your desperation to not be able to move or change the behavior of the owners and employees who continue to park and occupy a lot of parking spots and spaces we wish you had more of. Personally, where I know the owner of that business, I don’t do business in that business. I’m not going to do business where they feel that parking space is more important to them than to their customer. I think if there’s awareness to that affect then that might help change some of that behavior,” Standbridge said.
“Maybe, and I can see you’re point, but as a city I don’t think we want to be in the business of saying don’t shop there,” Maxwell said.
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